The Duke's Passion

"So... did they reconcile or not?"

Klaus scrunched his nose up, listening to Yulis and Silvia's conversation. He turned his head to the rest who were eavesdropping with him. Who were they? Everyone. Even the bride and groom were present, Sam carrying Sunny to force his wife to follow.

"I think they did?" Claude replied in confusion, frowning as he was unsure himself.

"You're just saying that because that's what you bet on," Dominique muttered, shaking his head.

Just as they started to argue in a murmur, keeping it low to not catch the Yulis and Silvia's attention, both of them still noticed. Actually, they already felt their presence halfway through their talk, but they pretended not to notice. The two cast them a look, making Klaus clear his throat.

One after another, they straightened their back as there was no point in hiding. Fabian, who was observing the awkward air gradually enveloping the group, clapped. As usual, his signature smile was plastered on his face.

"Are we having another wedding ceremony? We can just do it here since it'll be tiresome," he suggested, darting his eyes from Silvia and Yulis to the rest. "Also, I won the bet."

"Congratulations." Tilly clapped lightly because Fabian did win the bet. Every one of them either placed their stake on Yulis and Silvia reconciling, or they won't. However, Fabian chose neither.

'They will reconcile, but not at the same time.' — Those were Fabian's exact same words.

Everyone's eyes were on Fabian, expressions all the same, dead. When Silvia and Yulis left, Ramin remembered Fabian hadn't placed his bet. So he asked him. But to think Fabian got it correct... just what kind of sorcery Fabian had kept a secret from them? Was it normal for someone to be right all the time?!

"How fun." Fabian kept his smile, pleased to see everyone's reaction before shifting his attention back to Yulis and Silvia. "I now pronounce you husband and wife and rivals."

"Are you in a hurry?" Silvia clicked her tongue, as this already abrupt wedding was getting even more abrupt with every passing second.

"Yes. I will be busy collecting my winnings." She rolled her eyes and sighed. What did she expect from Fabian? "You may now kiss the bride."

Silvia let out a shallow breath, watching Fabian wave. But she didn't dwell on him for long, as it was pointless. Instead, she faced Yulis, who was averting his eyes away from their insensitive audience. Once their eyes met, he raised his brows and shrugged.

"This is so chaotic," he said, scratching his temple.

"Aren't you used to it yet?" she rolled her eyes. The word normal would never exist in this family. The two of them went silent momentarily, staring into each other's eyes.

"Is this wedding the start of your revenge?" he asked, and she shrugged.

"Yes. Seal it now."

Yulis cleared his throat before letting out a deep exhale. He raised his hand to cup her cheek, bending over to seal this chaotic and ten-second wedding ceremony facilitated by the one-of-a-kind all-rounder Fabian.

*******

EXTRA:

Back at the greenhouse, they resumed the banquet by drinking some wine and snacks. Silvia and Yulis returned an hour later, but none of them asked what they did. They were already too annoyed at Fabian as this man bet his life. So since he won, their lives were in the palm of his hands.

Moreover, Lilou and Samael left to put Law and Sunny to sleep for an afternoon nap. Obviously, they didn't expect those two to return.

Silvia cleared her throat as she set her eyes on Tilly. "Lady Tilly, by the way, are you and Fabian lovers?" her sudden inquiry instantly garnered everyone's attention.

They had been in the mansion for a week now. So, everyone already knew Tilly. No one asked her yet since they were busy and this wasn't important. But now that Silvia asked, everyone was intrigued. Tilly and Fabian somehow get along well because of their strange personality. But somehow, even with that fact laid on the table, none around this table could picture them being lovers.

"Lovers?" Tilly tilted her head and glanced at Fabian. "We were experimenting."

"Experimenting?" Kristina furrowed her brows, glancing at Charlotte and Ramin, who gave her a shrug.

"Did he extract your fangs? Don't make him open you up because he will add another unnecessary organ inside." Klaus looked at Tilly apologetically, knowing what sort of devil the butler was. Meanwhile, Fabian chuckled as he shrugged.

"We usually spend time together, drinking tea, exchanging love letters we stole from Samael to Lilou, take a walk around the mainland, and sit under the tree. We also tried a bit of kinship like holding hands and embracing each other," Tilly explained in her usual tone as if it wasn't a big deal. But the reaction on everyone's faces was... incomprehensible.

"Wasn't that called... courtship?" this time, Rufus spoke while tilting his head. "Have you finally become human, Ian?"

"It is courtship, brother, and I am human," Fabian replied with the usual smile on his face.

"Apparently, Fabian is in distress because he cannot understand the reason he was reminded of me when he was at death's door," Tilly added.

"So...?" Silvia, who was obviously interested to hear more, probed. "Did he find an answer?"

"Well, of course, yes." Pleased, Fabian's eyes gloss over at everyone before setting it to Tilly. "In conclusion, I was reminded of Lady Tilly because I was thinking about which place I can go if I go all out. My mind just simply offered a suggestion."

"..."

"Mister Fabian, Lady Tilly, aside from that." Claude, who was listening to them, spoke. "While you are experimenting, didn't you feel anything in particular?"

"It's not as fun as I thought it was," Tilly replied without thinking twice. At the same time, Fabian also answered.

"Inconvenient."

"..."

"I was wrong to think Fabian can finally understand the concept of love." Silvia sighed, disappointed that her gut feeling was correct. Fabian and Tilly get along well, but not in that kind of way.

"You two will make a weird couple." Klaus just shrugged as he didn't expect too much — actually, he just didn't expect anything from Fabian anymore.

"Anyway, since Yulis and Silvia got married now, will Yulis leave with you?" asked Tilly after several seconds, diverting the subject. Silvia glanced at Yulis and the latter shrugged.

"Well, she can't fulfill her revenge plan if I am here." Yulis smiled subtly. "Lady Tilly, thank you for your help all this time. I might die a little early, but thank you."

"Don't mention it. I am strong." Tilly nodded and frowned, gazing down while holding a cup of tea. "This mansion was never this lively ever since its establishment. Thank you all for coming."

When Tilly raised her eyes, all she saw were these people she just met a week ago smiling warmly at her. With the light that was shining through the greenhouse, the sight she was seeing was the most beautiful thing she had laid upon. A faint sigh of relief slipped past her lips.

'I think I finally had more friends, Soran.' She thought, listening to their warm reply. When her eyes landed on Yulis and Silvia once again, she was reminded of something.

"Yulis, you're not dying anymore, by the way," she said, causing silence around the table.

"Pardon?" Yulis raised his brows, thinking his ears were deceiving him. Not just him, but everyone looked confused.

"You've been cured two years ago," Tilly repeated in her same soft tone. "I just didn't tell you because it seems getting healed will devastate you even more."

"..."